Garden Designers shares tips and expertise.
Creating a green oasis and softening the boundaries by Myles Challis
Though you may not always be conscious of it, one of the main features which makes a garden particularly appealing is its surroundings. By this I mean the neighbouring houses and buildings being screened from view by strategic perimeter planting. Use mature evergreen screening to effectively create [...]
Shrubs With Coloured Foliage
The Value of Coloured Foliage in the Garden by Myles Challis (in-house garden designer at Paramount Plants - London's premiere garden centre) Photinia Red Robin Full Standard - Special Offer To many people colour provided by flowers in the garden takes a high priority. What many do not realise is [...]
Focal Points in the Garden by Myles Challis
Myles Challis, Garden Designer for Paramount Plants and Gardens. Regardless of the style of our garden or the type of plants it contains every garden should have a focal point. Tree fern beds make a great focal point Very large gardens which may be split into different areas may need more than one [...]
Exploiting the “Heat Island” Effect in our plant choices and creating gardens PART 2 – by Myles Challis
The warmer temperature, especially at night, in large towns and cities opens up a huge range of exciting plants that could not be risked in more rural areas. These are plants that would more normally be seen in the mild western gardens of say Cornwall or the Gulf Stream. For purposes of economies [...]
Plants For The Shade
Making the most of Shade by Myles Challis Many are mistakenly under the impression that shade is a no go area for plants. Obviously some plants do need sun but many are happy in either sun or shade and for some shade is a necessity. Acers | Pieris | Osmanthus | Fatsia Japonica Most gardens have at [...]
Thoughts for Planting in the New Year
by Myles Challis Gardens are never static or shouldn’t be. There are always improvements to be made be it with the design or with the planting. As gardeners become more knowledgeable and experienced discovering new plants, changes are made, and the garden developed. This is what retains the [...]